Panda Express supports charities with plush panda bear sales

February 6, 2006

ROSEMEAD, Calif. — Panda Express is selling plush panda bears to raise funds for the American Red Cross and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Panda Express…

U.S. coffee market to surpass $48 billion by 2010

February 6, 2006

NEW YORK — As the second-largest U.S. import — next to oil — coffee is a hot commodity, and U.S. consumers drink more cups of java than do consumers in any…

Camille's Sidewalk Café earns award from Arkansas governor

February 6, 2006

NORTHWEST, Ark. — Camille's Sidewalk Café earned the Healthy Arkansas Restaurant Gold Award from Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.   The Healthy Arkansas…

Dine-in pizzeria possible at Papa John's, but not soon

February 5, 2006

An old Jewish proverb reads like this: "What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth." If only a real estate agent in Wichita, Kan., had…

ZAO Noodle Bar selects POS provider

February 5, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — ZAO Noodle Bar selected Hospitality Solutions International's Profit Series POS system for its location in Kent, Wash. Five other ZAO…

Panera Bread inks southeast Texas development deal

February 5, 2006

Panera Bread announced a new agreement with John and Randal Oudt and Bob Stewart to develop bakery-cafes in the San Antonio and Austin markets in Texas.   The…

Trading product for air time

In every episode of the Showtime series "Weeds," a character drinks It's A Grind coffee. The only catch is Showtime requested fresh-brewed coffee.

Kahala Corp. announces 10-unit development agreement

February 2, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Kahala Corp, the Scottsdale-based franchisor of Frullati Café & Bakery, announced the signing of an area representative agreement with…

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts create T.V. and radio ads

February 2, 2006

Associated Press: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., a company once able to rely on word of mouth to sell its treats, is turning to television and radio ads for…

uWink: a new FC concept in L.A.

February 1, 2006

uWink announced the opening of a new Los Angeles restaurant with at-the-table touchscreens, which customers will use for ordering food. uWink will offer…

N.Z. Starbucks workers go on strike

February 1, 2006

The Scoop: Employees of Restaurant Brands, franchisor of Pizza Hut, KFC and Starbucks in New Zealand and Australia, have gathered under the banner of…

Jan. comps rise 10.2 percent at Panera Bread

January 31, 2006

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company reported that system-wide comparable bakery-cafe sales increased 10.2 percent for the four weeks ended Jan. 24. The breakdown…

Yum! Brands becomes first presenting sponsor of Churchill Downs

January 31, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs racetrack announced a partnership with Yum! Brands Inc. Yum! Brands will become the first presenting sponsor of the Kentucky…

Dunkin' Donuts introduces omelet

January 30, 2006

CANTON, Mass. — Dunkin' Donuts introduced the Supreme Omelet breakfast sandwich.   According to a news release, the Supreme Omelet is a mouthwatering…

Unicru named as finalist in 2006 Codie Awards

January 30, 2006

PORTLAND, Ore. — Unicru Inc. announced its hiring management system was named a finalist for The Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) 21st…

Knowfat adds menu items

January 30, 2006

BOSTON — KnowFat! Lifestyle Grille, the Massachusetts-based chain of fast-casual restaurant, introduced five new salads and two new burgers to its menu. The…

Super Bowl Sunday is big business

According to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend $5.3 billion preparing for or executing Super Bowl-related activities.

Chipotle's chef has his payday

January 29, 2006

Business Week: In 1993, Steve Ells opened Chipotle Mexican Grill, a "fast casual" eatery that served up made-to-order burritos and tacos to students at the…

Restaurants to report earnings

January 26, 2006

  MarketWatch: Some of the biggest names in the restaurant industry will be releasing quarterly results next week.   On an industry-wide basis, restaurant…

Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers

January 25, 2006

It wasn't long ago that you had to look up the definition of "fast casual" to understand the meaning of this unique restaurant concept that is a hybrid of the…